Anniversary of Kim Jong Il's election as General Secretary to be marked in Mongolia
Pyongyang, October 8 (KCNA) -- A meeting took place at the conference hall of the federation of peace and friendship organizations of Mongolia on October 3 to form a preparatory committee for celebrating the first anniversary of Kim Jong Il's election as General Secretary of the Workers' Party of Korea and the 53rd WPK birthday.
Speakers at the meeting said the WPK's history, started with the formation of the down-with-imperialism union, is that of revolutionary activities of President Kim Il Sung and General Secretary Kim Jong Il, the great leaders.
They stressed that under the leadership of the party the Korean people successfully repulsed the imperialists' aggression and achieved freedom and independence of the country and built a powerful socialist system under which the party, the leader and the masses are united as one in mind.
S. Surenjav, chairman of the Mongolia-Korea Friendship Society, was selected chairman of the preparatory committee.
The meeting discussed a program of celebrations.
S. Korean rulers should not meddle in tour of Mt. Kumgang
Pyongyang, October 8 (KCNA) -- A spokesman of the Committee for the Peaceful Reunification of the Fatherland made public a statement on Wednesday, denouncing the South Korean rulers' recent attempt to shift the blame for the delay of tour of Mt. Kumgang onto the north.
According to the statement, the director of the Exchange and Cooperation Department of the South Korean Ministry of National Unification said that tour of Mt. Kumgang has been delayed owing to the "obscure attitude" of the north "calling for additional expense" and it is "necessary to confirm the north's willingness" for promoting tour itself.
This is a shameless sophistry to distort the reality, mislead public opinion and make a mockery of people, the spokesman noted, and said:
As recognized at home and abroad, the very one responsible for the delay is none other than the South Korean authorities, who have made vicious and despicable efforts to block nongovernmental exchange and cooperation, while pretending to encourage it.
They are meddling in the tour of Mt. Kumgang to delay it.
Not long ago, the Prime Minister and Minister of "national unification" contended that "tourist expense should be restricted to less than dlrs 100 million," "contacts should be held between authorities" and "a place should be arranged for meeting of separated families."
Nevertheless, they put up the director to shift the blame for the delay of tour onto the north.
The entire fellow countrymen in the north, south and abroad will never tolerate the South Korean rulers, the vicious separatists who are making frantic efforts to incite distrust and confrontation among the nation, ignoring the national sentiment and shaking off the warm hand of the fellow countrymen, but make them pay dearly for their heinous crimes.
The South Korean authorities must not act rashly, mindful that they will be blamed for all the consequences Arising from the delay of tour.
Art performance of schoolchildren
Pyongyang, October 8 (KCNA) -- An art performance of schoolchildren was given here on Wednesday to celebrate the first anniversary of Kim Jong Il's election as General Secretary of the Workers' Party of Korea and the 53rd birthday of the WPK.
Seeing the performance were secretary of the WPK Central Committee Kim Jung Rin, first secretary of the C.C., the Kim Il Sung Socialist Youth League Ri Il Hwan, officials concerned and schoolchildren in the city.
Put on the stage were music and dance pieces showing the loyalty and filial piety and happiness of schoolchildren who are growing to be reliable heirs to the revolutionary cause of Juche under the loving care of Kim Jong Il.
Korean jewel picture exhibition opens
Pyongyang, October 8 (KCNA) -- A Korean jewel picture exhibition opened with due ceremony here on Oct. 7 to celebrate the first anniversary of Kim Jong Il's election as General Secretary of the Workers' Party of Korea and the 53rd anniversary of the WPK.
On display are nearly 100 pictures which show the development of Korean jewel pictures.
Among them are those portraying the three great persons of Mt. Paektu, "Mt. Kumgang" and "Pine Tree and Eagle."
Minister of Culture Choe Jae Hyon made an opening address at the ceremony.
Unpardonable mockery and challenge = KCNA commentary =
Pyongyang, October 8 (KCNA) -- The United States and the South Korean authorities are reportedly pushing ahead with "South Korea visits" of 60,000 soldiers of the U.S. Armed Forces who had participated in the Korean War.
The visit, planned together with "commemorations" which
Will be held on the occasion of the 50th anniversary of the the Korean War started by the U.S., will continue till the year 2004. It is clear what this means.
This is aimed at beautifying the war provoked by the U.S. imperialists in 1950 as a "sacred war" for the "free world" and justify it in the new century, too. What the U.S. seeks in this is to breathe new life into the South Korean authorities who are begging for a permanent presence of the U.S. troops in South Korea and seize the Korean peninsula forever as a bridgehead for carrying out their strategy for world domination.
As shown in the 20th century, the Korean War was the first war of aggression ignited by the United States for world domination after world war ii. During the war the U.S. imperialist aggression troops committed thrice-cursed atrocities against the Korean people.
This was why world public branded the U.S. outrageous acts in Korea as crimes, not a war.
The United States has not withdrawn its troops from South Korea since its disgraceful defeat in the Korean War.
The U.S. military presence in South Korea is a root cause of all misfortunes of the Korean people. It not only obstructs the reunification of Korea but also poses constant threats to peace and stability in Asia and the rest of the world.
Nevertheless, the united states is trying to realise the South Korea visits of 60,000 U.S. soldiers hand in glove with the South Korean authorities. This is an unpardonable mockery of and challenge to the Korean people and the world's peace-loving people.
Disgraceful acts of the south Korean authorities are one more heinous crime against the era and history.
The Korean people will never tolerate such criminal moves of the United States and the South Korean authorities.
NDFSK spokesman denounces "South Korea-Japan Fishing Agreement"
Pyongyang, October 8 (KCNA) -- The spokesman for the National Democratic Front of South Korea (NDFSK) published a statement on October 5 denouncing the present South Korean rulers for signing a "fishing agreement" with the Japanese reactionaries, said Seoul-based radio Voice of National Salvation.
He said:
Tok Islet is an inviolable part of the Korean territory and anyone is not allowed to hand even an inch of our land to outsiders.
The NDFSK never recognizes the "South Korea-Japan Fishing Agreement" which was signed as a result of bargaining between treason and aggression but declares it null and void, in the name of all the people.
The misbehaviour of Kim Dae Jung, who is hell-bent on pro-Japanese flunkeyist and treacherous acts, clean indifferent to the interests of the nation, territorial integrity and people's rights to existence, is a heinous crime which left an indelible disgrace in the five-thousand-year history of the nation.
The Kim Dae Jung group should draw a due lesson from the wretched reality of South Korea in which catastrophic crisis continues due to their flunkeyist and treacherous acts and take the road of independence before meeting a miserable end, thrown into a deeper bog of dependence on the United States and Japan.
Visit to Ryongmun Cavern
Pyongyang, October 8 (KCNA) -- Officials related to culture and friendship at foreign embassies here visited the Ryongmun Cavern on Oct. 7.
There are in the natural cavern ten thousand scenic wonders formed from tens of millions of years ago.
The cavern has been arranged fine according to the nature-conservation policy of the Workers' Party of Korea.
Film show on anniversary of friendship associations of Korea and China
Pyongyang, October 8 (KCNA) -- A film show took place here on Oct. 7 to mark the 40th anniversary of friendship associations of Korea and China.
Invited there were Chinese ambassador to Korea Wan Yongxiang and embassy officials, a delegation of the Chinese People's Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries and the China-Korea Friendship Association and other Chinese guests.
Minister of Public Health Kim Su Hak who is also chairman of the Central Committee of the Korea-China Friendship Association and other officials concerned were on hand.
The participants appreciated the Chinese feature film "the Red Valley."
High honor of having great leader as WPK General Secretary
Pyongyang, October 8 (KCNA) -- Rodong Sinmun today dedicates an editorial to the first anniversary of Kim Jong Il's election as General Secretary of the Workers' Party of Korea on October 8, Juche 86. All the party members, servicemen and people of Korea extend highest glory and thanks to Kim Jong Il who is leading the WPK and revolution along the road of victory and harden their determination to advance under the banner of the party, holding him in high esteem forever, the editorial says, and continues:
Thanks to him, fundamental changes are taking place in the party building, activities and work as a whole, the DPRK is demonstrating its might as a powerful state in ideology, politics and military affairs and a history of great change has opened in the building of the economy and culture.
Kim Jong Il has led the struggle of our party and people for final victory with his outstanding and tested guidance.
In the last year, the Korean people and servicemen keenly felt the happiness and honor of having him as the WPK General Secretary and are firmly convinced of a bright future of the country and revolution.
The WPK is an invincible party which displays its dignity with his greatness and emerges ever-victorious with his absolute authority. As long as there is his seasoned guidance, the WPK will demonstrate its invincible might and creditably discharge its mission and role as the guiding force of the Korean revolution.
The final victory is in store for the Korean people under the guidance of the great leader.
The editorial calls upon all the people to push ahead with the general march for building a powerful socialist country with a firm confidence in victory, rallied closer around the Party Central Committee headed by Kim Jong Il.
Joint investigation on death of cattle
Pyongyang, October 8 (KCNA) -- The Hyundai Business Group and the north side have begun joint investigation into the cause of the death of some of the cattle Jong Ju Yong, honorary chairman of the Hyundai Business Group, had donated to the north in a noble humanitarian spirit, according to the spokesman for the Korean Asia-Pacific Peace Committee.
The two sides decided to clarify the truth and take measures lest such an incident should occur.
Nongovernmental exchange and cooperation between the north and the south, motivated by love for the country and the nation, will contribute to national reconciliation, unity and reunification.
Letter to Kim Jong Il from Chongryon
Pyongyang, October 8 (KCNA) - General Secretary Kim Jong Il received a letter from the Central Standing Committee of the General Association of Korean Residents in Japan (Chongryon) on the occasion of the first anniversary of his election as General Secretary of the Workers' Party of Korea.
The letter dated October 8 said:
"Your election as WPK General Secretary according to the unanimous will and desire of the whole party, the entire army and all the people was a great event of the nation which has promised that the Juche cause started by the fatherly leader generalissimo Kim Il Sung would certainly be carried to accomplishment and which solemnly declared a new era of history."
"With veteran and refined guidance, you have wisely directed the WPK and all the Korean people along a triumphant and glorious road of accomplishing the Juche cause, frustrating every anti-socialist, anti-DPRK move of the imperialist reactionaries which has reached the climax.
"Administering the great politics of believing in people as in heaven, you have brought up our people to be members of the unbreakable ranks based on singlehearted unity. As a result, a new history has been unfolded in the homeland in which the leader, the party and the people form a harmonious whole."
"You are the destiny and future of all the people, who bring only victory and glory, happiness and joy to Chongryon and the Koreans in Japan."
"We will in the future, too, uphold you with loyalty and filial piety, cherishing the unshakable patriotic faith and determination to trust and follow you as the great sun of the nation and the symbol of bright future."
Congratulatory letter to Kim Jong Il from NDFSK
Pyongyang, October 8 (KCNA) - General Secretary Kim Jong Il received a congratulatory letter from the Central Committee of the National Democratic Front of South Korea (NDFSK) on the occasion of the first anniversary of his election as General Secretary of the Workers'Party of Korea and the 53rd anniversary of the founding of the WPK.
The letter dated October 8 said:
"The WPK, a Juche-based party which was founded by the great leader comrade Kim Il Sung, has made historic victories and radical changes under your wise guidance, thus recording immortal exploits in the course of accomplishing the Juche cause."
"With your election to its highest post, the WPK has been further strengthened and developed into an ever-victorious, iron-willed party whose ideological purity and organisational solidness have reached the highest peak. And Juche Korea has been able to make a dynamic advance toward building a powerful state."
"To have the WPK is the highest honor of Juche Korea and the greatest pride of the Korean nation."
"It is an invarible resolution and will of the NDFSK and patriotic people from all walks of life to dynamically advance along the orbit of Juche, holding you in high esteem."
"The Central Committee of the NDFSK will firmly prepare its ranks and other revolutionary movement organisations to be ranks of those who will fight it out under the banner of Juche with an unshakable ideology and will, not wavering under any difficult and arduous circumstances, and conduct a more powerful struggle for anti-U.S. independence and reunification. By doing so, it will make a new triumphant advance in national democratic movement."
Party Founding Museum
Pyongyang, October 8 (KCNA) -- The 53rd anniversary of the Workers' Party of Korea falls on October 10.
A large number of people are visiting the Party Founding Museum on the threshold of the anniversary.
It is a historic place associated with the immortal exploits of the President Kim Il Sung in founding the party and guiding the building of a new Korea from September 1945 to January 1949 after the liberation of the country.
The Party Founding Museum, located at the foot of Haebang Hill in the Centre of Pyongyang, opened in October Juche 59 (1970).
It consists of the two-storied house where the President was, the two-storied museum and the monument to party foundation.
On the first floor of the museum there are showrooms where several hundreds of materials on the foundation of the party are put on display.
Among them are works authored by the President in the period from October 1926 when the down-with-imperialism union, the historic root of the Workers' Party of Korea, was formed to August 1946 when the Communist Party was developed into a powerful mass political party, and publications and photographs showing the process of the party foundation.
On the second floor are office rooms at which the President worked, a parlor and a 200-seat conference hall.
At those rooms, small and simple, he guided the preparations for party foundation and the building of a new Korea and convened the historic inaugural meeting of the party and declared its foundation.
At the conference hall, visitors have deep feelings of reverence for him, while listening to part of a recorded speech he made at a meeting for marking the 20th party foundation anniversary .
Withdrawal of S. Korea's "system of law observance oath" demanded
Pyongyang, October 8 (KCNA) -- The secretary-general of Amnesty International expressed strong opposition to the "system of law observance oath" in south Korea invented by the "government for the people," a South Korean newspaper said.
The "system of law observance oath" is little different from the preceding ideological conversion system because it forces a prisoner of conscience to make an oath against his principle, the secretary-general said, urging the South Korean authorities to withdraw it.
He repeated his demand for the withdrawal, contending there can be no compromise in the issue of human rights though tension with the ruling quarters may be created.
First anniversary of Kim Jong Il's election as WPK General Secretary marked
Pyongyang, October 8 (KCNA) -- Workers, peasants and women met on Wednesday to celebrate the first anniversary of Kim Jong Il's election as General Secretary of the Workers' Party of Korea.
Present at the meetings were secretary of the WPK Central Committee Kim Jung Rin and officials concerned.
Addressing the celebration meeting of workers, Ryom Sun Gil, chairman of the Central Committee of the General Federation of Trade Unions of Korea, said Kim Jong Il's election as WPK General Secretary was a great happy event for the Korean people and trade union members. It was of historic significance in accomplishing the revolutionary cause of Juche, he added.
He called upon all the trade union officials and members to successfully carry into practice Kim Jong Il's plan for building a powerful state with their hammers of self-reliance.
Chairman Sung Sang Sop of the Central Committee of the Union of Agricultural Workers of Korea addressed the meeting of peasants, and then followed speeches.
Speakers stressed that all the agricultural workers would trust in and follow only General Secretary Kim Jong Il with confidence in sure victory and optimism in any adversity and prepare themselves to be true loyal subjects who go along the long journey of revolution to the last.
Chairperson Chon Yon Ok of the C.C., the Korean Democratic Women's Union made an address at the women's celebration meeting.
She said that with the pride and honor of having Kim Jong Il at the head of the party, all the women's union members should firmly prepare themselves to be true women revolutionaries who uphold his idea and leadership with loyalty and filial piety anytime and anywhere, following the brilliant example of Kim Jong Suk, a communist revolutionary fighter, in devotedly defending the leader.
Art performances were given at the celebration meetings.
On the same day, a poem-recitation and sing-song was held by Pyongyang youths and students in front of the monument to party foundation to celebrate the anniversaries.
April 25 Hotel, large service centre
Pyongyang, October 8 (KCNA) -- The April 25 Hotel with accommodation for 20,000 guests has been built as a grand monumental edifice of the era of the Workers' Party.
It is located on the outskirts of Pyongyang. Its total floor space is more than 134,000 square meters.
It consists of the main and subsidiary buildings.
There are four five-storied bedroom buildings with a square-shape in the main building area. Inside are four building with mess halls and cuisine. Hanging from the ceiling of the central hall of each building that is as high as the fifth floor are large chandeliers two tons in weight and 14 metres in length.
The hotel has hundreds of rooms, among them more than 300 bedrooms. It has a signal system for first-aid treatment.
The hotel has 20 mess halls to serve 1,000 guests at once. The cuisine (2,000 square metres) have been built on modern lines. There are more than 60 kinds of nearly 300 sets of modern cook equipment. Installed there are eight large elevators to carry food. There are washing equipment and hot and cool dish stores by the mess hall on each floor.
It takes four hours to serve out meals for 20,000 guests.
Bedroom buildings are provided with saunas, bathrooms, shower rooms and other welfare service facilities.
There are vegetable and fruit storehouses with a capacity of more than 200 tons, large refrigerating equipment, an office building and garages in the subsidiary building area.
The hotel has been built by soldiers of the Korean People's Army in more than one year.
General Secretary Kim Jong Il inspected it on Oct. 6.
He called for equipping the hotel, an asset of eternal value for the army and people, with better facilities and providing those who stay in the hotel with good conditions for a cultural life.
National meeting to celebrate first anniversary of Kim Jong Il's election as WPK General Secretary
Pyongyang, October 8 (KCNA) -- Today is the first anniversary of Kim Jong Il's election as General Secretary of the Workers' Party of Korea (WPK).
On this occasion a national meeting took place at the April 25 House of Culture in Pyongyang.
Kim Ki Nam, Secretary of the WPK Central Committee, in a report referred to undying feats performed by General Secretary Kim Jong Il for the party and revolution, the country and the people.
His election as WPK General Secretary was the will of history and a brilliant realization of the unanimous will and desire of all the Korean people, the reporter said, and went on:
Kim Jong Il has wisely led the building of the party, the army and socialism as a whole for more than 30 years and brought about steady innovations in politics, military, economy, culture and all other sectors of revolution and construction.
he has strengthened and developed the WPK into the party of the President Kim Il Sung, a revolutionary party of Juche type, and achieved the singlehearted unity of our revolutionary ranks. This is one of his most brilliant feats.
Supreme Commander Kim Jong Il has strengthened the Korean People's Army (KPA) into an army of the leader, the party and the people, the reporter stated, and continued:
The KPA has grown up as a matchless revolutionary army that can defeat any aggressors.
With noble loyalty and filial piety and moral obligation he made sure that President Kim Il Sung is being held in high esteem as the eternal sun of Juche and made distinguished contributions to exalting the national history and the history of the era of independence forever as the history of the President.
He has long had absolute authority as the supreme leader of the party and revolution and is highly praised by the world progressive people as a guide who will lead the 21st century.
With him elected to the highest post, the WPK will firmly defend its revolutionary character, honorably discharge its noble mission for the era and history and accomplish the socialist cause of Juche with success, come what may.
The present difficulties are temporary and our victory is everlasting.
As long as there is the ever-victorious revolutionary guidance of Kim Jong Il, we have nothing to be afraid of and there can be no fortress unconquerable.
Present at the meeting were Kim Yong Nam and other senior party, state and army officials and working people in the city.
Ri Song Ho sends notice to S. Korean Red Cross President
Pyongyang, October 8 (KCNA) -- Ri Song Ho, acting chairman of the Central Committee of the Red Cross Society of the DPRK, handed a notice and data of veterinary examination of the dead cattle to Jong Won Sik, President of the South Korean Red Cross, at Panmunjom at 03:00 today.
The notice said:
As of October 6, 71 of 500 heads of the cattle donated by Jong Ju Yong, honorary chairman of the Hyundai Business Group, to the north on June 16 died of bleeding and obstruction of digestive organs. This death was caused by ropes and plastic sheet contained in their paunches.
According to evidence and veterinary examination, the cattle were handed to the north after they had been forced to eat the ropes and pieces of plastic sheet.
As you know, Jong Ju Yong donated the cattle to the north out of the compatriotic and humanitarian stand.
Nevertheless, some of the cattle died. This is a very regrettable thing which enrages the people and makes people feel doubtful about humanitarian assistance from your side.
The group death of cattle is a serious incident without an equal in humanitarian assistance between the north and the south. Accordingly, we cannot but call your side to account for the death.
The Korean Asia-Pacific Peace Committee and the Hyundai Business Group are making a joint investigation into the death of cattle and discussing measures.
Our side urges your side to pay due attention to this, detect and severely punish the criminal of this grave incident and take relevant measures lest such an incident should recur in humanitarian assistance, because your side was involved from the beginning in the delivery of cattle from honorary chairman Jong Ju Yong to our side as part of humanitarian work.
I enclose data of veterinary examination of the death of cattle and photographs.
Data of veterinary investigation into death of cattle
Pyongyang, October 8 (KCNA) -- Ri Song Ho, acting chairman of the Central Committee of the Red Cross Society of the DPRK, handed data of veterinary investigation into the death of some of the cattle donated by Jong Ju Yong, honorary chairman of the Hyundai Business Group, to President of the South Korean Red Cross Jong Won Sik at Panmunjom today.
The data of the veterinary investigation reads:
At 09:00 on June 16, 1998, the north side took over 500 heads of the cattle from the Hyundai Business Group at Panmunjom.
During the period of their quarantine, veterinarians and keepers looked after them in a responsible way and took a strict measure to block others from approaching the veterinary quarantine ground after locating it far away from populated areas and local cattle.
Nevertheless, some of the cattle lost their vigor and did not eat well and consequently began to be weakened. As a result, 71 of 500 heads of the cattle died as of October 6.
The cause of their death is ropes and pieces of plastic sheet contained in their paunches.
The volume of ropes contained in their paunches ranges from 400 grams to 36.5 kilograms. The number of the one with 36.5 kilograms is 263/181.
The volume of the plastic sheet contained in their paunches ranges from 200 square centimetres to 250 square centimetres.
65 percent of the dead cattle had ropes in their paunches and others both ropes and pieces of plastic sheet.
Most of the survivors are in bad condition and cases of death are being reported almost every day.
These ropes are identical to their reins in component and were made of resin, which is not produced in the north.
All facts prove that the cattle had fallen victims to ill-motivated deeds in the south before they were handed to the north.
Paek Nam Sun meets Iranian ambassador
Pyongyang, October 8 (KCNA) -- Foreign Minister of the DPRK Paek Nam Sun today met and had a conversation with Mohammad Ganjidoost, Iranian ambassador to Korea, who paid a courtesy call on him.
Vice-Premier Kwak Pom Gi meets Chinese guests
Pyongyang, October 8 (KCNA) -- Vice-Premier Kwak Pom Gi today met and had a conversation with a delegation of the China-Korea Friendship Association and the Chinese People's Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries led by vice President Chen Haosu.